9 Common travel scams & how to avoid them
Published on Mon Sep 17 2018 in Lifestyle
Holiday travel can be full of wonderful new experiences, from trying new foods to learning about the local culture. What you don’t want are new experiences that put a damper on your trip! Scammers and thieves unfortunately target tourists in every country, even here in New Zealand. Many of these ploys go beyond the simple pickpocket or fake souvenir. Even the most seasoned travelers can be fooled by a crafty trick!
Before striking out on your next adventure, you might want to learn some of the ways thieves commonly take advantage of holiday-makers. That way, you can travel with confidence, whether you’re visiting a new city or going further abroad.
Transportation
Getting from point A to point B on a trip can be an adventure! It’s also an opportunity for dishonest drivers or business owners to take advantage of naïve travelers.
1. The broken cab meter
You’ve settled into a cab when the driver tells you that the meter is broken. He still drives you to your destination, but you end up paying much more than you should. Another variation is a “helpful” driver offering to turn off the meter to save you money.
What to do: Before heading anywhere in a cab, make sure the meter is working and turned on before the driver starts your ride. If it’s not, get out and find another taxi (your original driver may suddenly be able to “fix” the problem). You can also negotiate or confirm the price of the trip beforehand, so there are no surprises when you reach your destination.
2. The damaged rental
You rent a scooter or motorbike from a local shop. The next morning you discover it’s been damaged, or worse, stolen! Now you must pay to repair or replace the rental. What you don’t realise is that the shop owner’s friend may have intentionally damaged or “stole” the bike so she could get more money from you.
What to do: Whenever you rent an item in another country, take photos to document any previous damage before leaving the shop. Use your own bike lock, rather than those provided by the shop (they may have duplicate keys to make “stealing” it easier). Finally, secure your scooter in a safe spot overnight (in a locked garage or monitored parking lot, if you can).
Hotels
People looking to take advantage of tourists often target hotels, resorts or hostels—an easy place to find holiday-goers with their guard down!
3. The overbooked hotel
Fresh off the plane, you give the hotel address to your cab driver. She happens to know that its overbooked, so you won’t be able to get a room. The driver might also let you know that this hotel is in a bad part of town. She offers to take you to a better hotel that has rooms available. However, what she won’t tell you is that this new hotel is a lot more expensive and she’ll get a commission for each guest brought there. (Oh, and your original hotel is actually just fine!)
What to do: Even if the cabbie seems friendly, don’t just take their word for it. Call ahead and confirm your reservation. Online reviews can help you choose accommodation in safe neighbourhoods when you first book.
4. The midnight phone call
It’s the middle of the night, and you’re woken by a call from the front desk. There’s something wrong with your credit card. The desk clerk just needs to confirm the card details over the phone, then you can get back to sleep. But, this call isn’t from the hotel at all. It’s a scammer who will take your card details and start charging as soon as you hang up.
What to do: Never give personal or payment details over the phone. If there’s an issue, the hotel will ask you sort it out in person. Tell the person on the phone you’ll come down in the morning and hang up.
5. The fake room inspectors
You’re relaxing in your room when there’s a knock on the door. It’s two “room inspectors” from the hotel. One comes in to look around, whilst the other distracts you in the hallway. The one in your room takes any money or valuables that are lying around. Neither of these people are actually with the hotel.
What to do: Don’t let people you’re not expecting into your room. Use the peephole to see who’s knocking, and keep the chain secured if you open the door. Ask them to wait whilst you call the front desk to confirm who they are. If they’re doing legitimate business for the hotel, they won’t mind the extra caution.
Deals too good to be true
Everyone likes to get a good price, especially on holiday. But beware of thieves who take advantage of bargain-hunting tourists.
6. The free bracelet
You’re walking through a touristy area when someone stops you to offer a free friendship bracelet for good luck. They braid the bracelet right on your wrist, tying it tight so it’s impossible to slip off. When you try to leave, they loudly demand money for the “freebie.” They take your payment but might also pickpocket you later now that they know where you keep your wallet.
What to do: This scam can be tough to get out of, as the most practiced thieves can get started before you really have a chance to say no. The best defense is to ignore them and keep walking. If someone starts to put something on your body or touch you, say no firmly and loudly whilst walking away. Alert the local police if you can.
7. The closed attraction
A friendly local strikes up a conversation and asks where you’re headed. When you tell him, he helpfully lets you know that the site or attraction you want to visit is closed for renovations, a religious celebration or some other reason. Luckily, he can take you to a similar site that’s much better and less touristy! When you get there, you’re charged an expensive entry fee or pressured to buy overpriced souvenirs.
What to do: Before heading out, call ahead or go online to confirm opening hours. If you’re already nearby, stick to your original plan. Worst case scenario is that the site really is closed, and you’ll need to sort out other plans. However, chances are that it’s open, and you’ll avoid being duped.
8. The open hotspot
Free WiFi can be a godsend when you’re in a foreign country. But beware of unsecured hotspots posing as a safe connection. Hackers often set up WiFi hotspots without passwords, sometimes with names suggesting that they belong to a local business. Unsuspecting tourists login to check email, transfer money or pay a bill and get their details stolen.
What to do: Always confirm the official hotspot name for your hotel, restaurants or other locations before connecting. Those who are especially tech savvy can get their own password protected VPN (virtual private network) for extra security.
9. The discounted ticket
You’re in the queue to buy train tickets or entry to an attraction. Someone approaches and offers to sell you a ticket to help you save time or money. It’s such a great deal that you buy from them. Later when you try to use it, you discover that it’s fake or unusable because your ID doesn’t match the name on the ticket.
What to do: Always buy tickets (especially for transportation) from an official ticket office or website. You may be required to give your name for security reasons or to help thwart would-be scammers.
For more ways to stay safe on holiday, check out these travel safety tips.
About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.
The content provided in this article is for information purposes only. The information is of a general nature and does not constitute financial advice or other professional advice. To the extent that any of the content constitutes financial advice, it is limited to Momentum Life products only and does not consider your specific financial needs or goals. You should consider whether the information is appropriate for you and seek independent professional advice, if required.
All product information is correct at the time this article was published. For current product information, please visit the Momentum Life website.